»The Boeing 737-500 skidded off a runway at high speed and burst into flames because of the pilot’s inability to steer while trying to take off in gusty cross-winds, the NTSB ruled. Six people suffered severe injuries.

Investigators also found that many airline simulators, including Continental’s, made such takeoffs seem far easier than in the real world. To make matters worse, the airline and its trainers were never told the simulators were inaccurate, the safety board found.«